Optimal Dispersed Ground-Water Contaminant Management: MODCON Method

Abstract

A presented methodology and model compute optimal ground-water use strategies that approximate optimality for water supply, while achieving desired ground-water quality goals. This MODCON approach utilizes a new goal programming-based modification of the advective transport equation. Applied to dispersed ground-water contamination, MODCON allows the accurate constraining of concentrations that will exist in selected locations as a result of optimal pumping. Constraint locations can be initially contaminated, and contaminated ground water can be extracted. MODCON is hierarchical in a sense because a volumetrically optimal strategy is first computed for a study area and then modified only as needed to achieve water-quality goals. In the process, a subsystem that includes the dispersed contamination is selected and discretized. Within this subsystem, transport is modeled with method of characteristics accuracy via modified advective transport equations. These equations are modified in a new approach using coefficients derived through goal programming and external simulation. Application to the Bayou Bartholomew Basin in Arkansas is shown.